De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Air Enterprises

Registration:

G-ALWY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

6741

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Port Ellen, the aircraft was too low, hit the ground and lost its undercarriage. It skidded on its belly for several yards before coming to rest. While all six occupants were unhurt, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Barra

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGPH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

6889

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing on the beach at Barra, the twin engine aircraft overturned and came to rest upside down. Both pilots who were engaged in an ambulance flight, were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide off Cairns: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade

Operator:

Registration:

VH-CFA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Vanrook – Cairns

MSN:

6814

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was returning to Cairns from am ambulance flight to Vanrook Station bringing a seriously injured stockman to Cairns Base Hospital. The aircraft had no radio navigation aids and the pilot was unable to locate Cairns due to thick smoke from the annual sugar cane burn-off by farmers. When fuel was low, the pilot decided to ditch the aircraft in the sea, about 24 km (15 miles) north of Cairns. They were unable to drag the unconscious patient from the aircraft before the Rapide immediately sank. The three survivors swam to shore and reached a beach after six hours in the water.
Crew:
Cpt Neville Hicks, pilot.
Passengers:
Keith Howard, ambulance officer,
Larry Hansen, friend of the injured man 1.
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh89/dh89.htm

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Kasese

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

VP-KEB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

6891

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On touchdown, the aircraft skidded, went out of runway and came to rest on an embankment. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Turkey Creek

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1951 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-AIK

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Turkey Creek – Alice Springs

MSN:

6497

YOM:

1941

Location:

Turkey Creek (Warmum)

Western Australia

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Parked at Turkey Creek Aerodrome, ready for a flight to Alice Springs, the pilot started the engine when a fire erupted. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft would be destroyed by fire. Pilot was Eddie Connellan.
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh89/dh89.htm

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Laxey: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-ALXJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Blackpool – Jurby

MSN:

6863

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

6000.00

Circumstances:

The scheduled cargo flight from Blackpool-Squires Gate Airport to Douglas-Ronaldsway was cancelled due to foggy conditions at destination and the airline decided to fly to the RAF Jurby located in the north side of the Isle of Man. While approaching the island in low visibility, the twin engine aircraft hit a cliff located near Laxey and fell back into the sea. The pilot, Captain Walker, was killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to avoid rising ground when flying at a low altitude in bad visibility.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Abadan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Operator:

Registration:

G-ALGO

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

6830

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Abadan Airfield, the twin engine aircraft hit the chimney of a refinery and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.

Ground accident of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Rhodos

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHIA

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: